Ebisubashi (Ebisu bridge) in Osaka, Japan. View towards Shinsaibashi and North Osaka. The large buildings on the horizon are the Buddhist temples Kita Mido and Minami Mido.
The photographer stood at the current location of the Kanidoraku crab restaurant.
The bridge was apparently named Ebisubashi because of its location on the road to Imamiya Ebisu Jinja, a very popular shrine for business people in Osaka.
Ebisu happened to be a derogatory term for foreigner in the mid 19th century. The country having just opened its doors to foreigners, the bridge’s name was changed to Eiseibashi in 1867 (Keio 3). This Political Correctness avant la lettre didn’t last long. Only three years later the original name was restored.1
Walking straight down the street across from the bridge you will eventually reach Shinsaibashi.
For another view of Ebisubashi, taken from a location on the left side of this photograph, see Dotonbori Canal.
Notes
1 Nagasaki University Library, Database of Old Photographs of Japan. Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
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Kjeld Duits
Reference for Citations
Duits, Kjeld (). Osaka 1890s: Ebisubashi Bridge, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on August 2, 2026 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/42/osaka-1890s-ebisubashi-bridge
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